Overhead filtration box?

[Keister]

Well poking around reading another thread I came across overhead filtration boxes? I am trying to add more filtration and bio to my 220 without a ton of weight as it isn't possible for me to use a sump. The tank is not in a basement but in my room and so I don't want to add anymore weight to the floor then I have to not to mention not even a 55g can be fit in the stand so it's just totally out of the question. I am currently filtering with an fx5, 2260, and filstar xl4 but I want more. So I am curious as to what a good size would be and how it should be designed to be the most effective? I am totally in the dark here so any help will be greatly appreciated!


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[xraycer]

Are you against having a large sump that sits on the floor but situated away from the main tank?

If so, then an overhead wet/dry appears to be the only easy option

 

[Keister]

Are you against having a large sump that sits on the floor but situated away from the main tank?

If so, then an overhead wet/dry appears to be the only easy option

My room is fairly small and with my bed and two dressers and the tank there really honestly isn't anywhere else for it to go... Otherwise no I wouldn't be.


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[KAWAMIKIE]

This the overhead filter I have on my 500. I'm pretty sure the tote box is 18 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck. It's run by a Quiet one 4000 pump. I made a spray bar and it sprays into filter mat and sponge. In the box is a few mesh bags of pond Matrix and a bag of carbon. I have the pump at the top of my tank with a pick up tube with screened inlet extended to the bottom of the tank to pick up waste. Water returns are opposite of the pick up tube and over flow. You can build it out of any size box and use any size pump. Use bulked fittings on the box so there are no leaks. Use 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" pipe on the return and it will give you plenty of drainage return flow so you can't over flow the box. I do not have any baffles in the box. The media bags are laying in the bottom. You can see where my return pipe is. Water lays in the box and overflows out of the return bulked.

 

[Keister]

Hmmm how effective do you find the filter to be? Like is it even worth the hassle? You certainly don't see these often and I assume that's because of the fact that they have to be above the tank?


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[KAWAMIKIE]

It works great. Its the only mechanical filtration im running. I was using filter socks in the lower sump and got tired of cleaning them.
It's probably not something you would want to look at in your house. My tank is in the garage so I'm not worried about how it looks. It keeps most of the waste off the bottom and my water has never been clearer.

 

[Keister]

I really wouldn't mind the look even though it's in my room I can get over it if it makes my tank healthier and cleaner! Would you say that it's better then say another fx5? It will have to be worth it's keep for me to spend the money and time to make it and then to have to look at it all the time.


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[fishbum]

It sounds like you have plenty of filtration as it is. Unless you are having issues with your water, it doesn't seem like this would be worth the hassle.

 

[Keister]

It sounds like you have plenty of filtration as it is. Unless you are having issues with your water, it doesn't seem like this would be worth the hassle.

I am keeping rays along with other predator groupies so I could use any and all the extra filtration that I can get! Any extra significant bio will help! I have been thinking about adding a bio reactor as well to give it more bio capacity.


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[fishbum]

Yeah I get that, but again, if you have no ammonia, nitrite, and are keeping your nitrate low with water changes, another filter won't do anything. If you are worried about nitrates, there is a sticky somewhere here about using houseplants to help with those.